Sunday, May 18, 2014

Muslim representation reduced to 23 in 16th Lok Sabha, none in BJP's 282



The 16th Lok Sabha will have one of the lowest representation for Muslims with just about 23 of them emerging victorious in the Lok Sabha polls in the wake of the saffron surge in the north and western parts of India. Uttar Pradesh, which has 80 seats, has not returned any Muslim candidate in the just-concluded elections. An analysis of the results shows that there are about 23 winners from the Muslim community. BJP, the largest party with 282 members, does not have a single representative from the community.

In the new Lok Sabha, the biggest contingent of Muslim MPs would be from West Bengal with seven members followed by Bihar where at least four Muslim candidates have won. Going by estimates, there were 28 Muslim members in the outgoing Lower House. Trinamool Congress has at least three members from the community among whom are Idris Ali (Basirhat), Sultan Ahmed (Uluberia) and Mamtaz Sanghamita (Burdwan-Durgapur).

The others minority community members from West Bengal include CPM's Badaruddoza Khan (Murshidabad) and Md Salim (Raiganj). There are also two Congress members — Mausam Noor (Maldaha Uttar) and Abu Hasem Khan Chowdhury (Maldaha Dakshin) — who have won in these elections from the state.

From Bihar, there are at least four Muslim MPs in the new Lok Sabha. They include RJD's Tasleemuddin (Araria), NCP's Tariq Anwar (Katihar), LJP's Chaudhary Mahboob Ali Qaisar (Khagaria) and Congress member Mohd Asrarul Haq Qasmi (Kishanganj).

From Jammu & Kashmir, there are three Muslim members for the new House, including PDP leader Mehbooba Mufti (Anantnag). The remaining two, Muzaffar Hussain Baig (Baramulla) and Tariq Hameed Karra (Srinagar), are also from PDP.

There are two Muslim MPs from Assam — Siraj Uddin Ajmal (Barpeta) and Badruddin Ajmal (Dhubri). Both are members of the All India United Democratic Front.

NCP's Mohd Faizal PP has won in Lakshadweep while AIADMK member Anwhar Raajhaa has made it to the Lower House from Ramanathapuram in Tamil Nadu. All India Majlis-E-Ittehadul Muslimeen leader Asaduddin Owaisi, representing Hyderabad, has retained his seat.

Registering its best-ever showing, BJP has won 282 seats in Lok Sabha polls, becoming the first party in 30 years to have single majority.

The BJP and Mr.Modi will have to pay a special attention to this and try and give accommodate more muslims in rajya sabha. The two very strong contenders in the Ministry could be Smt.Najma Heptulla and Mr.Mukhtar Ahmed Naqvi. It is astonishing that Mr.Shahnawaz Hussain has lost in the BJP wave which is being debated everywhere. There are talks that Shahnawaz belongs to Shri Advani group and the chances are that he may not get an opportunity to be accommodated in the Rajya Sabha because of his proximity to Shri L.K.Advani. It will interesting to see the role of Mr.Sabir Ali, Former Rajya sabha member and once the close aide of Mr.Nitish singh. It is believed that Mr.Sabir Ali is closed to Mr.Modi and he would get a chance in the Modi’s new team. It is also believed that Mr.Sabir Ali did speak to many muslim leaders and the clerics for and on behalf of Mr.Modi for which he is likely to be rewarded.

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